The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism, has released its annual list of the top issues affecting Jews as part of its ongoing efforts to counteract bigotry, prejudice and hatred.
The top issues were Israel’s war against Hamas terror, rising anti-Semitism in Europe, the shootings at the Overland Park Jewish community center in Kansas by a career white supremacist, a noticeable rise in anti-Israel activity on college campuses, and the proliferation of anti-Jewish hate speech on the Internet, according to an ADL press release.
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Rounding out the top 10 were scandals involving anti-Semitism and racism that rocked professional sports; the Iranian nuclear negotiations; the U.S. Supreme Court decisions allowing legislative prayer and free exercise rights for corporations; immigration reform; and racial bias in the criminal justice system.
“It was a difficult year for the Jewish people as we witnessed Israel coming under attack repeatedly, both in the form of a campaign of terror waged by missiles and through tunnels as well as attacks to its very legitimacy, ” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, according to the press release.
“Anti-Semitism once again was on the rise. Never in our lifetime did we think we would hear chants of “Jews to the gas” in – of all places – Germany. The heinous terrorist attack at the Jewish Museum in Belgium and the protests that erupted during Israel’s operation in Gaza brought even more anti-Semitism to the surface in countries around the world, particularly in Europe, ” he said.
“Racism reared its ugly head this year in a series of high-profile incidents involving sports franchises and professional teams in the U.S. and around the world, ” said Barry Curtiss-Lusher, ADL National Chair.
“From the L.A. Clippers fiasco to other issues and controversies involving major professional teams, racism and anti-Semitism remained a serious problem on the field and in the executive offices. We were reminded that much work remains to be done to ensure professional sports remain hate- and prejudice-free zones, ” he said.
